Over 1,260 school kids to benefit the program
TACLOBAN CITY – Approximately 1,260 Grade 1 students from various public schools in the city will participate in the government’s “Tara, Basa” program, aimed at improving reading skills among young learners.
The program, set to run from May 19 to June 23 during the summer break, will be implemented across 20 public schools in Tacloban.
Selected students, identified as slow readers or those with low comprehension, will receive two hours of tutoring each day, provided by college student tutors paid P405 daily by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Lily Talagon, principal of San Jose Central School, expressed her support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve students’ reading abilities.
“This is a good program, and I hope all our identified students will learn to read with comprehension by the end of the program,” Talagon said in an online interview.
Her school has 160 out of 283 Grade 1 students enrolled in the program.
Imelda Gayas, principal of Tacloban City Central School, also welcomed the program, noting its timely implementation during the summer break when students can focus on enhancing their reading skills.
“Summer time has always been observed that kids tend to forget schools so with this intervention, we hope that learning will continue even its during break time,” she said.
“The goal is to improve their reading levels, especially those who are in the emergent or transition stages,” Gayas added.
Her school has identified 70 out of 89 Grade 1 students for the program.
In total, 5,040 Grade 1 students across Eastern Visayas will participate, requiring 1,510 tutors.
The “Tara, Basa” program is aligned with Executive Order 76, issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., to improve literacy skills, provide financial support to tutors, and increase parental involvement.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
